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The road to a happily ever after in Romanceland is never an easy one. This month, we’re highlighting the dark moments of our favorite romance novels and novellas. Enjoy this excerpt from Forever and Always by Susanne Matthews.

Ballet is the only thing Brandi Alexandra Jameson has ever known. When an accident leaves her dance partner dead and herself unable to dance again, she tries to accept the situation, but some pain goes too deep to be set aside so easily. Lost, alone, frightened, all she wants to do is hide away, but her family has a different idea.

Jarrett Sullivan has been in love with Brandi from the first day he saw her and blacked a kid’s eye for calling her names. Shy, unsure of himself, he stayed in the background, looking out for her, but before he could make his move, she left Victoria for the stage in Toronto. Now that she’s back, he’ll do whatever it takes to win her heart. After badgering her sister, he earns the right to escort the woman he’s always wanted to the event of the year.

When Brandi discovers Jarrett paid an exorbitant amount for an Alexandra Jameson poster, she assumes he’s lied to her and is nothing but another crazed fan. Her heart broken she flees Victoria and ends up in Geneva where she hopes to learn to cope with what’s happened to her.

Can Jarrett find her and explain what happened or will a spiteful woman’s half-truths keep them apart forever?

“Hi, Brandi,” a woman who looked vaguely familiar sat down on the chair beside her. “It’s so nice to see you again.”
“I’m sorry,” Brandi answered, aware of the woman’s barely, suppressed annoyance even if the plastic smile only faded for a second. “I’m afraid I don’t remember you, and I apologize for that. I’ve learned tonight that I missed an awful lot while I was in school.”
“Well, you were always on the go. You had to be otherwise you’d never have made it in the dance world. I’m Celia Miller Larkin, the chairperson of this year’s fundraising committee. I wanted to thank you personally for donating that signed poster.”
“Not a problem,” Brandi answered, sensing an undercurrent in the woman’s tone. Anger? Jealousy? No, it was insincerity, an emotion that after nine years in the theater, she could spot a mile away. While she’d made wonderful friends as a dancer, there were others she’d learned to avoid. Cats were the same no matter where they were. You had to recognize them to sidestep the claws.
“I just wanted to say how much the committee appreciates you spending time with the man who purchased your poster. He’s always been generous, but Jarrett’s donation tonight goes above and beyond. Of course, we all know he’s had a bad case of hero worship for years. He papered his locker with pictures of you in various ballet costumes even in high school. Did he tell you about selling his car so he could afford to buy a ticket to see you dance in that very ballet in Vancouver?”
“No, he didn’t mention it,” she said, keeping her face carefully neutral although the world was reeling around her. It couldn’t be true. If he’d bought the poster, why hadn’t he said so? He’d paid an exorbitant price for it, too, even if it was all for charity. He mentioned he’d seen her dance here, but selling his car? That went way above friendly interest in her career. Foreboding filled her.
“That’s strange. When he came back to Victoria, all he could talk about was the great Alexandra Jameson and your performance… but you must be used to fans by now who’ll do anything to get your attention. So what if he bought your company tonight? I’m sure it’s not the first time you entertained a patron in exchange for a large donation. That’s the way these things work. It’s all for a good cause, and the hospital can really use his money.”
My God, she makes me sound like a whore.
Celia turned and looked at Tom coming toward the table. “Here comes your brother-in-law. Well, if you have any other mementoes from the past you’d like to get rid of, please consider donating them to club’s spring auction, especially if it’s something more personal like slippers or a tutu. I’m sure he’d snap them up.”
“Celia,” Tom said, his tone heavy with sarcasm. “Never a pleasure to see you. Isn’t there a rich man nearby you can fleece?”
The woman scowled at him, not a good look on her overly made up face. “You know what you can do to yourself,” she said before turning back to her. “As I said, it was a pleasure to see you again. I’m glad we had this opportunity to chat. And don’t forget what I said—if you’ve got something truly personal…” She glared at Tom and walked away.
Brandi’s fingers gripped the table and she swallowed, praying she wouldn’t be sick and disgrace herself. What a fool she was. Jarrett was no different than the other star-struck fans who’d followed her around for years. Why hadn’t she seen it? Everything he’d said to her tonight came back to her filtered by this new information. She looked down at the roses on her shoulder. Suddenly, they meant no more than the countless bouquets the cleaning staff had thrown out each evening after the performances.
“So, what did the Victoria Viper have to say?” Tom asked, taking the chair Celia had occupied.
Too hurt to acknowledge how stupid she’d been, she smiled and chose her words carefully. No one could know how deeply this betrayal had upset her.
“Nothing much,” she said, keeping her voice even. She was good at hiding pain. “She wanted to thank me for donating the signed poster.”
“That’s it?” Tom said, disbelief evident in his voice.
“More or less. She added the committee would be pleased to accept any other memorabilia I’d like to donate in the spring, especially something of a more personal nature. It seems the man who purchased the poster is an avid fan of mine. From the look on her face, he’d probably pay a fortune for a pair of my used, ballet tights.”
Tom reddened, about to say something but the others came back to the table, and he sighed loudly obviously considering himself off the hook. So he knew this “date” was payback for the big donation, too. How much more humiliating could this get? How much lower could Jane sink, pimping her out this way? And Jarrett? Wanting to be friends? What would that be? Stalking with permission? Just what payback would he expect when he drove her home? Before he could sit down, Celia snatched him up for a lady’s choice, and Brandi was grateful. She needed to get out of here before he returned.
After a few more minutes of chitchat, smiling so hard her face hurt, she could take no more. When Tom got up to dance with Jane, she stood. “Dad, can you take me home now? I’m exhausted.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to wait for Jarrett?”
“No, he’s having a good time, and he’s done more than enough tonight. Besides, I think I’ll need help getting up the stairs and into bed.” It was a lie but one she knew he’d buy and act on quickly.

Susanne Matthews was born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. She is of French-Canadian descent. She’s always been an avid reader of all types of books, but with a penchant for happily ever after romances. A retired educator, Susanne spends her time writing and creating adventures for her readers. She loves the ins and outs of romance, and the complex journey it takes to get from the first word to the last period of a novel. As she writes, her characters take on a life of their own, and she shares their fears and agonies on the road to self-discovery and love.

The road to a happily ever after in Romanceland is never an easy one. This month, we’re highlighting the dark moments of our favorite romance novels. In The Plot, our hero has a decision to make.

He didn’t know how many hours had passed since he was staring sightlessly at the ceiling, alone in darkness with only his thoughts as company. It had been more than a week since he and Yoko had been together in this bed, ready to make love for the first time. A week since she’d told him she loved him, and he’d said the same to her. Then her sordid confession had been like the hit of a bus.

He still couldn’t take it all in. Whenever he imagined his sweet, innocent Yoko in bed with some other man—or men—he felt he would go mad. When he thought of everything she must have endured, of how brutally she had been robbed of her innocence, he cursed God, fate and whatever monster was responsible for that. If he knew, he would kill him or them with his bare hands—because surely there was more than one person involved in this kind of crime.

But what about her? Had there really been nothing she could do to stop it? Why hadn’t she gone to the police, to the consulate? His mind circled around these questions and always returned to the same point: the threats against her family. How could he judge her when he would do anything to protect his family from harm? What choice did she have? The bastards knew exactly how to control and manipulate her.

He’d read and heard about such things in the news, but tragedies like these seemed far away, things that happened to ignorant women from underdeveloped countries. What a shallow fool he had been! Just like everyone around him, he didn’t stop to think twice about this kind of atrocities. Never had he considered he would meet a victim of human trafficking. Or fall in love with one of the troubled, tortured women whose existence seemed only a theory.

Was he truly in love with Yoko? He’d said so when he didn’t know about her past. But did he love her now? Did her past make a difference? He thought about everything he liked and admired about her: her seriousness, her rare, child-like smiles, her determination, her intelligence. Her beautiful face and enticing body. God, could he love her without thinking of all the men who’d had her?

He rubbed his hands hard over his face. He would have said a real man wouldn’t hold her past against a woman, especially since she’d been forced into it. But was he man enough to love Yoko, to forgive and forget?
His eyes opened and he stared into the blackness, stunned at his selfishness.

Listen to him! Forgive and forget. Who was he, a former thief and breaker of too many laws too count, to judge anyone? Yoko was a victim. She didn’t need his forgiveness, but his love and support. She needed someone to help her get over the horrible traumas and memories that had scarred her soul forever.

Yes, forever. He didn’t fool himself. He knew an experience like hers could never be forgotten. She might have learned to live with it, but the wounds were burned into her mind. Now he understood so many things he hadn’t comprehended before: her reactions, her reluctance and initial suspicion, her reserved nature. She’d suffered terribly, endured things no woman should endure, especially a young girl.

When he recalled her telling him about the first rape—there was no other word for it—that had stripped away her virginity and dignity, he felt tears stinging his eyes. She’d needed comfort, love, healing. Instead, he’d sat there like a statue, unable to move, unable to utter a sound, numbed by shock. She’d left thinking he thought her dirty, as she felt about herself. She never knew the pain that torn his own heart. He ached for her with every cell of his being.

Why then hadn’t he gone after her? Why had he needed all this time to exist like a zombie, day after day, to realize he did love her and wanted her in his life, despite everything? He’d said to himself he needed time to absorb what she’d told him, but truth be told, he was a damned coward. A stronger, better man wouldn’t have brooded all this time, wouldn’t have doubted the feelings he’d professed so ardently only a week ago.

He flung the sheet aside and stood. He hadn’t managed to sleep more than a few restless hours these past days. He descended the stairs and went to the kitchen, where he poured himself a large whiskey. He’d done nothing but drink, moon around the shop and haunt the streets in search of answers. Actually, the answer had been in his heart all along. His head just needed to catch up. He loved Yoko. No matter what her past was, whether she’d had a choice or not, he wanted a future with her.

He wasn’t sure he had the patience and tenderness necessary to help her heal, but he was determined to do his best to try. If she was still willing to accept him. But what if she wasn’t? What if it was too late and he’d lost her because of his gutlessness and hesitation?

Tossing back his drink, he went in search of his phone, praying she would answer. She hadn’t returned to the shop since the fateful day of her graduation, and he couldn’t bring himself to even call her. Now he frantically dialed her number, ignoring the fact that it was nearly three a.m. But when the connection was made, his mouth went dry.

Her number had been disconnected.

REALITY IS NOT A FAIRYTALE. CAN A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAVE A HAPPY ENDING AFTER YEARS OF ABUSE AND DEGRADATION? ESPECIALLY WHEN HER ONLY FOCUS IS GETTING PAYBACK…

At eighteen, Yoko Hirano falls into the tentacles of a human trafficking organization and is forced into prostitution. Her first sexual experience is close to a rape, so she becomes traumatized and her opinions about men are low and unflattering. She uses her charms only as means of manipulation.

Four years later she meets the tall, dark and charming antique dealer Mark Chandler. They both acknowledge reluctantly the complicated chemistry between them, but Yoko’s grand scheme of things doesn’t involve falling in love, nor does she think Mark would want her if he found out about her past. To get revenge and prevent other girls from sharing her fate, she plans to ruin the Chinese triad that has destroyed her life and innocence.

However, she doesn’t realize that Mark can be an asset in her plans of bringing down the powerful mobster Michael Chen and his interlopers. Together, they make a quite formidable pair…

Melinda De Ross is an international author of Romanian origin. She writes in two languages, and her books combine the elegance specific to the European style with the modern appeal of the American culture. She has a Law degree and has been a professional target shooter for over a decade. Her favorite genre to read and write in is Romance, and anytime she prefers to watch a classic movie instead of going to a noisy club.

The Madly In Lust event continues with a seductive scene from my Mechanical Men series. Kiss Me, Keep Me is book 2 of the series. I had such fun writing Zain and Gemini’s story. Enjoy this steamy excerpt! Warning: naughtiness ahead. Proceed with caution. 🙂

Mechanical men may not have real hearts, but they also can’t break yours. The only thing you have to worry about them breaking is your headboard. But who needs a headboard anyway?
-Hudson Innovations – Making your life better, one machine at a time.

She’s not looking for love. She’s looking for lust.
The headboard breaking kind of lust.

Gemini Prescott has been burned by love too many times. There’s no way she’s going back down that road again. When she learns of mechanical men, she believes she’s found the perfect antidote to her problems. Mechanical men can’t break your heart. Mechanical men can’t cheat on you with your best friend. A mechanical man is exactly what she needs.

But something seems to be wrong with her personal robot. He doesn’t follow orders like he’s supposed to. Instead, he has demands of his own. Demands that leave her begging for more. She would return him to the manufacturer, but there’s this thing he does with his tongue that makes him a keeper.

He’s not looking for love or lust. He’s looking for a way off this planet.

Zain only has one goal: to return to his home-world. Though most of his brethren are enjoying their new life on Earth, Zain has no desire to follow their lead. He doesn’t want to be a pleasure-robot, a slave to whoever purchases him. He plans to leave Earth behind and he’ll destroy anyone who stands in his way.

Then he meets Gemini.
And everything changes.

“I like this,” he told her. “This feels good.”

She grinned, but remained silent. The fun part hadn’t started yet. Still rubbing his thighs, she leaned forward and blew her breath against his length. A hiss escaped his lips, but he didn’t break the chains.

Good cyborg.

She blew against him again and felt him shiver. Gem moved closer to his cock. Eyes on him, she licked the tip of him then pulled back. She watched him bite into his lower lip. Poor baby, he was trying his best not to break this pair of cuffs.

Was it bad that she wanted him to break them? That she wanted to push him to his limit? She wanted to see what he could do. Gem leaned forward once more and wrapped her lips around the tip of him.

“Shit,” he groaned, as his cock filled her mouth.

She gripped the base with one hand, then proceeded to bob her head up and down on his length, going down as far as she could. He groaned her name.

“Gemini.”

She tightened her lips around him. His hips raised from the bed as he pushed deeper into his mouth. She placed one hand on his stomach, holding him down, trying to somewhat control his movements.

As he rose up, she moved down. His cock pulsed as he pushed in and out of her mouth. He tasted salty. Not like a human male. But not like she’d thought a robot would. She liked it.

The texture of his skin was different than that of a man’s. It was harder. She grazed her teeth across his skin, a big no-no for regular men. Her cyborg loved it. His cock went from pulsing to actually vibrating against her tongue.

“I don’t know what is happening?” He groaned. “I cannot stop it.”

She didn’t want it to stop. He was vibrating the way her toys did, just faster. Gemini raised her head and stared down at his cock. Yep, he was vibrating like her dildos.

“I think, I think I am malfunctioning. We should…”

“Or perhaps you’re programed to do this.”

“I do not know. I should’ve paid attention during training.”

“I like that we’re learning this together,” she told him before trailing her tongue over his tip.

“You like torturing me,” he groaned.

“Is that what I’m doing?” She sucked him into her mouth again.

“Yes, but it’s the sweetest torture.”

It was the sweetest torture for her also. The more she touched him, the more aroused she became. Soon, she would be begging him to fill her with his cock. But, he wasn’t ready for that part yet.

And she didn’t want to rush him. So, she took her time, licking up and down his length as he vibrated in her palm. His body jerked. He hissed her name as his heels dug into the mattress.

Her gaze drifted to the handcuffs as she gripped him tighter and sucked him into her mouth, only to release him and suck him in again. She found him rubbing his head against his shoulder until the blindfold pushed past his eyes and over his head.

“I wanted to watch,” he told her.

Mouth full, all she could do was wink. She grazed her teeth along his skin again.

“Stars, Gemini.” His eyes snapped shut and he clenched his teeth.

So much for him wanting to watch. Though his eyes were closed and hands were clenched into fist, the cuffs were still in place. Good cyborg. But she was tired of him being good.

I’m excited to say that my new Sci-Fi romance, Silver, is available on Amazon and is FREE with Kindle Unlimited. Oh, and I have an awesome giveaway going on, with more giveaways to come soon.

All Malia Valdese wants to do is survive in the Outlands and serve food to the patrons of her diner. She doesn’t want anything to do with the handsome silver-eyed stranger who keeps showing up after closing time, asking her weird questions and making her feel something she hasn’t felt in years, desire.

She doesn’t care that he’s the sexiest male she’s ever seen or that he stares at her like she’s the main course. Steering clear of him is her plan. Well, it was the plan, before he turned her world upside down with four words…. You’re coming with me.
Apparently she has no say in the matter.

She’s not on the menu. But she’s what he hungers for.
Her scent tells him she’s his and the wanted pictures popping up all over the dark-net tells him he needs to lay low for a while. Having her next to him in bed while he tries to clear his name is the plan. Unfortunately, his enemies are closer than he thought and now they’ve found his weakness…. her.

Can he shield his mate from the consequences of his dark past? Or will she flee to his enemies to escape him and the intense emotions he stirs inside of her?

No matter what she chooses, he has no intention of letting her go… ever.

Silver waited on her to get dressed. When she reentered the room, he saw red. “Not happening. You are not wandering around my ship in that.”

“What?” She stared down at her clothing.

“Those jeans are too tight. I can see all of your curves.”

“They’re hip-huggers. They’re supposed to fit like this.”

“I’m the only one who should be hugging your hips.” Her smile proved she wasn’t taking him seriously. “You know what, I’m tired. I don’t feel like giving a tour.” Silver sat down on the mattress, eyes still on the jeans hugging his mate.

“Everyone wears them,” she rubbed her hands over the offensive fabric.

“Everyone isn’t my mate.”

“So you’re one of those kinds of males.”

“What kind?” The kind that didn’t want his female showcasing her body to his crew?

“The kind that wants his female to be obedient in all things, even how she dresses.”

“Of course not. You have a mind. You’re free to make your own decisions.”

“Except when it comes to clothing.”

“Except when it comes to clothing that shows all of your curves. My males, they are unmated. Though they’re loyal, I don’t want them staring at you, lusting after you.”

“Well then maybe you should change clothes too. I don’t want any female on this ship lusting after you. Fair is fair.”

“There are no other females on this ship.”

“Oh, well, I don’t want your males lusting after you.”

“My males wouldn’t…. wait, if I change clothes will you?”

“No,” she threw her arms wide, a frustrated expression on her face. “I was just trying to show you how stupid this whole conversation is.”

“The tour is over.” Silver laid back on the bed.

“The tour never started.”

“And it won’t, not this night.”

“Are you really going to allow our first argument as a couple to be over a stupid pair of pants?”

“This is our second argument. The first was when you awoke and realized I’d kidnapped you.”